Older Japanese Women Research Articles

Association Between Tongue Pressure and Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Japan.

Although it has been suggested that a decline in oral function is one of the potential risk factors affecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI), evidence is insufficient to draw clear conclusions. This Japanese cross-sectional study examined the association between tongue pressure (TP) and MCI in middle-aged and older adults aged 36-84years. Study participants were 1019 (368 men and 651 women). TP was evaluated using a TP measurement device. The maximum value of three measurements was used for analysis. MCI was defined as being present if a participant had a Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of <26. Adjustment was made for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, history of depression, number of teeth, employment, education, and household income. The prevalence of MCI was 45.3%. Among women, compared with the lowest tertile of TP, the second and highest tertiles were significantly associated with a lower prevalence of MCI with a clear dose-response relationship; the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) in the second and highest tertiles of TP were 0.54 (0.36-0.83) and 0.55 (0.36-0.84), respectively (p for trend=0.005). In contrast, no statistically significant association was observed between TP and the prevalence of MCI among men. Our findings suggest that higher TP might be inversely associated with the prevalence of MCI in middle-aged and older Japanese women.

Association Between Low Kidney Function and Excess Weight Concerning Unfavourable Periodontal Health among Community-dwelling Older Japanese Women.

To investigate the association of low renal function and overweight with poor periodontal condition in community-dwelling older Japanese women. In total, 359 older women (age range: 55-74 years) participated in this study. Two periodontal parameters - the number of teeth with a probing pocket depth (PPD) or clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 4 mm - were used as the dependent variables. The principal independent variables were low renal function as defined by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and overweight as defined by the body mass index. Poisson regression analysis was used to calculate the ratio of means (RM). The RMs of the number of teeth with a PPD or CAL ≥ 4 mm in an adjusted model without an interaction term were 1.21- or 1.27-fold higher among those with an eGFR < 60, while those among the participants with an eGFR < 60 in the adjusted model with interaction terms for the number of teeth with a PPD or CAL ≥ 4 mm were 1.43- or 1.36-fold higher. In addition, increments of periodontal risk with low renal function and overweight showed a slightly smaller to negative trend. The present findings suggest a connection between unfavourable periodontal health and both renal function and being overweight among older Japanese women. A weak negative interaction was also found between poor renal condition and overweight in relation to periodontal condition.

Knee Extensor Muscle Strength Associated with the Onset of Depression in Older Japanese Women: The Otassha Study.

We examined whether knee extensor muscle strength can predict the onset of depressive symptoms in older Japanese women living in Tokyo. A baseline comprehensive geriatric examination was conducted to evaluate isometric knee extensor muscle strength and depressive symptoms (using Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]) in 2017-2019. A free of neurological disease participants received a series of follow-up examinations following an initial evaluation. A GDS score of ≥5 during follow-up marked the onset of depressive symptoms. A logistic regression model was established after adjustment of baseline GDS score for variables including age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, working status, hobbies, volunteering, years of education, and dietary variety. Of the 1845 recruited individuals, 1409 were eligible to be targeted for follow-up. Among them, 768 women provided two-year follow-up data and contributed the final analysis. After covariate adjustments, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for depressive symptoms were 0.68 (0.39, 1.20) and 0.48 (0.26, 0.91) for the middle and highest tertiles of muscle strength, respectively, using the lowest tertile as reference. A dose-response association between muscle strength and depression (p = 0.022) was identified. This study suggests an inverse dose-response relationship between knee extensor muscle strength and the onset of depressive symptoms in older Japanese women.

Prevalent morphometric vertebral fractures as a risk factor for subsequent clinical vertebral fractures after shortfusion surgery in older Japanese women with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

A retrospective cohort study using the Kaplan-Meier method with propensity-score matching. To evaluate whether the presence of prevalent morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) poses a risk for subsequent clinical VFs after short-fusion surgery in women aged ≥60 years with degenerative spondylolisthesis. VFs are common osteoporotic fractures and are associated with a low quality of life. Subsequent VFs are a complication of instrumented fusion in patients with degenerative lumbar disorders. Thus, risk factors for subsequent VFs after fusion surgery must be analyzed. Population-based studies have suggested that prevalent morphometric VFs led to a higher incidence of subsequent VFs in postmenopausal women; however, no studies have investigated whether prevalent morphometric VFs are a risk factor for subsequent VFs after fusion surgery in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis. The study enrolled a total of 237 older female patients: 50 and 187 patients had prevalent morphometric VFs (VF [+] group) and nonprevalent morphometric VFs (VF [-] group), respectively. The time to subsequent clinical VFs after fusion surgery was compared between the two groups using the Kaplan-Meier method. Moreover, 40 and 80 patients in the VF (+) and VF (-) groups, respectively, were analyzed and matched by propensity scores for age, follow-up duration, surgical procedure, number of fused segments, body mass index, and number of patients treated for osteoporosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the VF (+) group had a higher incidence of subsequent clinical VFs than the VF (-) group, and Cox regression analysis showed that the presence of prevalent morphometric VFs was an independent risk factor for subsequent clinical VFs before matching. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated comparable results after matching. The presence of prevalent morphometric VFs may be a risk factor for subsequent clinical VFs in older women with degenerative spondylolisthesis who underwent short-fusion surgery.

Physical frailty predicts cognitive decline among community-dwelling older Japanese women: A prospective cohort study from the Otassha study

BackgroundPhysical frailty and cognitive decline are common issues in geriatrics within an aging society, yet the association between them remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the association between physical frailty and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older Japanese women. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted in an urban area of Tokyo, Japan, involving community-dwelling older adults 65 years or older. Physical frailty was evaluated using the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria, consisting of five components: shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity. Participants were classified as robust, pre-frail, or frail based on the presence of one or more criteria. Cognitive decline was defined as at least a three-point decrease in the Mini-Mental State Examination score from baseline. The association between physical frailty and cognitive decline was examined using binomial logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. The analysis yielded multivariable odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), with robust participants using as the reference group. ResultsA total of 2,122 individuals participated in the baseline survey, with 805 included in the analysis (mean age: 72.9 ± 5.1 years). At baseline, 363 participants were classified as pre-frail, while 32 were classified as frail. During the two-year follow-up period, 68 participants experienced cognitive decline. The multivariable OR (95 % CI) for frailty, using robust as the reference, was 3.50 (1.13, 10.80). Furthermore, a linear relationship was observed between physical frailty and cognitive decline. ConclusionAmong older Japanese women, there exists a dose-response relationship between physical frailty status and cognitive decline.

Associations of dietary patterns and longitudinal brain-volume change in Japanese community-dwelling adults: results from the national institute for longevity sciences-longitudinal study of aging

BackgroundThe association of dietary patterns and longitudinal changes in brain volume has rarely been investigated in Japanese individuals. We prospectively investigated this association in middle-aged and older Japanese community-dwelling adults.MethodsData with a 2-year follow-up from the sixth wave (July 2008 to July 2010; baseline) to the seventh (July 2010 to July 2012; follow-up) of the National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging project were analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day dietary record, and longitudinal volume changes (%) in the total gray matter (TGM), total white matter, and frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, and insular lobes were assessed using 3-dimensional T1 magnetic resonance imaging scans. Multiple factor analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed sex-specific dietary patterns. Associations between dietary patterns and annual brain-volume changes (%) were evaluated using general linear models adjusted for age, apoprotein E genotype, body mass index, medical history, lifestyle behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and energy intake.ResultsAmong the 1636 participants (age: 40.3–89.2 years), three dietary patterns were determined for men (n = 815; Western; Vegetable-Fruit-Dairy; and Traditional Japanese diets) and women (n = 821; Western; Grain-Vegetable-Fruit; and Traditional Japanese diets). Compared to women following the Western diet, those on the Traditional Japanese diet had less TGM atrophy. Multivariable-adjusted β (95% confidence interval) of the annual change (%) of TGM was − 0.145 (-0.287 to -0.002; P = 0.047), which correlated with reduced parietal lobe atrophy. No association between dietary pattern and brain atrophy was observed in men.ConclusionsAdherence to healthy dietary patterns, with higher consumption of whole grains, seafood, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, soybean products, and green tea, potentially confers a protective effect against brain atrophy in middle-aged and older Japanese women but not in men. Further research to confirm these results and ascertain the underlying mechanisms is required. This study highlights the importance of sex-specific effects on the relationship between dietary patterns and brain health in diverse populations.

Evaluation of Physical Activity Assessment Using a Triaxial Activity Monitor in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults With and Without Lifestyle-Related Diseases

Background: Several previous studies investigated physical activity of older adults using wearable devices, but more studies need to develop normative values for chronic disease conditions. This study aimed to investigate physical activity using a triaxial activity monitor in community-dwelling older Japanese adults with and without lifestyle-related diseases. Methods: Data from a total of 732 community-dwelling older Japanese men and women were collected and analyzed in a cross-sectional study. The participants’ physical activity was assessed for seven consecutive days by a triaxial accelerometer. Physical activity was assessed by number of lifestyle-related diseases and six lifestyle-related diseases categories by gender. Physical activity was assessed separately for total, locomotive, and nonlocomotive physical activity. Results: Participants with multiple (two or more) diseases had significantly lower total light-intensity physical activity (LPA; 278.5 ± 8.4 min/day) and nonlocomotive LPA (226.4 ± 7.0 min/day) versus without diseases in men. Compared in each disease category, total LPA and nonlocomotive LPA was significantly lower in men with hypertension and diabetes. Total sedentary time was significantly higher in men with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Locomotive LPA was significantly lower in men with diabetes. In women, locomotive moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity was significantly higher in women with diabetes, and nonlocomotive moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity was significantly lower in women with heart disease. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that older Japanese men with multiple lifestyle-related diseases had lower physical activity. In each disease category, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease affected lower physical activity, especially in men.

The combination of locomotive syndrome and poor sleep quality is a risk factor of falls among community-dwelling middle-aged and older women: A cross-sectional study.

The combination of locomotive syndrome (LS) and poor sleep quality (PQ) has not yet been shown to result in falls or to affect bone conditions in old age and middle age. [Correction added on 1 December 2023, after first online publication: The preceding sentence has been updated for clarity.] METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 2233 community-dwelling middle-aged to older Japanese women. LS and PSQ were assessed by the stand-up test, two-step test, the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Participants with both LS 1-3 (any) and a PSQI score ≥6 were classified as belonging to the LS(+)/PSQ(+) group. The incidence of falls in the previous month was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Bone conditions were evaluated using an ultrasonic bone densitometer. The LS(+)/PSQ(+) group independently had a higher risk of falls after adjusting for confounding factors than the LS(-)/PSQ(-) group using multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.01-3.65, P < 0.05). No relationships between LS(-)/PSQ(+) and LS(+)/PSQ(-) groups and the incidences of fall were observed (P > 0.05). [Correction added on 1 December 2023, after first online publication: The two preceding sentences have been corrected to provide greater clarity.] The LS(+)/PSQ(+) group had lower trabecular bone density and cortical bone thickness than the LS(-)/PSQ(-) group (P < 0.05). The combination of LS and PSQ is an independent risk factor of falls, indicating that assessing both LS and PSQ could be useful in detecting middle-aged and older women with low bone density and thickness who fall easily at an early stage. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 912-918.

Predictive Capability of 5 Sarcopenia Diagnostic Criteria for Fall Incidents in Older Japanese Women: The Otassha Study.

The association between sarcopenia diagnosis according to various diagnostic criteria and falls is unclear. We examined the association between sarcopenia defined by 5 different international criteria, and fall and injurious fall numbers among older community-dwelling Japanese women. Prospective observational study. Two population-based cohort studies in Itabashi, Japan, were integrated, including 552 community-dwelling Japanese women >75years of age. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed by bioimpedance analysis, handgrip strength, and gait speed, respectively. We recorded the fall and injurious fall numbers for 1year using a diary. The association between sarcopenia diagnosis defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), International Working Group on Sarcopenia, and Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders, and fall numbers was assessed by Poisson regression analysis to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI for the presence or absence of sarcopenia. Of 470 participants (mean age 77.1 ± 8.1years), 144 reported a combined 352 falls. Overall, 80 individuals experienced a single fall, 64 experienced multiple falls, and 91 experienced injurious falls. Sarcopenia defined by the AWGS 2019 (IRR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.76) and FNIH (IRR 2.55, 95% CI 1.99-3.26) was significantly associated with the number of falls. In addition, sarcopenia defined by the FNIH (IRR 2.72, 95% CI 1.84-4.03) was significantly associated also with the number of injurious falls. No significant association was observed between sarcopenia diagnosis based on the other definitions and fall outcomes. The AWGS 2019 and FNIH sarcopenia definitions were associated with the fall and injurious fall numbers in older Japanese women, indicating they can help in predicting falls in this population.

The combined effect of rowing exercise and the intake of functional foods containing inulin on muscle mass and bone mineral density in older Japanese women.

Aging decreases muscle mass and bone mineral density (BMD), especially in older women. It has been reported that rowing and inulin intake positively affect muscle and bone, respectively. We examined the synergistic effect of rowing and functional food intake, including inulin, on lean body mass, BMD, and physical function parameters in older Japanese women. Fifty women aged 65-79 years were divided into four groups with or without inulin intake and rowing. The interventions were carried out for 12 weeks in each group. We assessed lean body mass and BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after the intervention and examined the changes in the values in each group. Lean body mass in all groups decreased, and the change in lean body mass in the group with rowing and inulin intake was significantly smaller than that in the group without them (-0.05 ± 0.61; -0.83 ± 0.59 kg; P = 0.030). The BMD in the three intervention groups increased after the 12-week intervention. The change in BMD in each of the three intervention groups showed significant differences compared with the control group (Rowing + Inulin: P = 0.03; Rowing + No inulin: P = 0.01; No rowing + Inulin: P < 0.01). Rowing and the intake of functional foods, including inulin, synergistically prevented a decrease in lean body mass. These factors, individually and additively, might increase BMD in older Japanese women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 779-787.

Relationship Between Walking Frequency And Physical, Motor, Cognitive Functions In Older Japanese Women

Relationship Between Walking Frequency And Physical, Motor, Cognitive Functions In Older Japanese Women

Longitudinal Changes in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study in Japan.

To examine longitudinal changes in accelerometer-measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and associated factors of changes in MVPA among community-dwelling older Japanese men and women over 2years of follow-up. In total, 601 participants (72.2 [5.4]y, 40.6% men) were included. MVPA was assessed at baseline (2011) and follow-up (2013) using triaxial accelerometers. Sex-stratified multiple linear regression models were used to identify associated factors of changes in MVPA. On average, a significant decrease in MVPA over 2years was observed only in women (P < .001). Higher baseline MVPA levels and older age were significantly associated with a decrease in MVPA over 2years in both men and women. Men who were currently drinking (vs no) and had faster maximum gait speed showed statistically significant increases in MVPA. Women who had very poor/poor economic status (vs fair/good) and were socially isolated (vs no) showed statistically significant increases in MVPA over 2years, while those who had fear of falling (vs no) and poor/fair self-rated health (vs good/very good) showed statistically significant decreases in MVPA over 2years. Our findings showed different associated factors of changes in MVPA by sex, suggesting the importance of accounting for sex differences in terms of developing specific intervention strategies for promoting MVPA among older men and women.

Interaction Between Sarcopenic Obesity and Nonlocomotive Physical Activity on the Risk of Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adult Japanese Women.

This study aimed to investigate the interaction between sarcopenic obesity and locomotive and nonlocomotive physical activity (PA) on the risk of depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older Japanese women. Participants were 143 community-dwelling older women aged 64-94years. PA was measured using a three-axis accelerometer. Participants were classified according to two levels of total, locomotive, and nonlocomotive PA. Depressive symptoms were assessed by a self-administered survey consisting of the 15-item Japanese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15-J). The interaction between sarcopenic obesity groups and total or locomotive PA did not affect GDS-15-J scores. However, the interaction between sarcopenic obesity groups and nonlocomotive PA significantly affected GDS-15-J scores (p < .05). Moreover, sarcopenic obesity in the low PA group had significantly higher GDS-15-J scores compared with sarcopenic obesity in the high PA group (p < .05). We concluded that sarcopenic obesity combined with low nonlocomotive PA may exacerbate depressive symptoms in older women.

Relationships between locomotive and non-locomotive MVPA and 'ikigai' in older Japanese adults.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) of moderate to vigorous intensity (MVPA) and ikigai in older Japanese adults. We evaluated the amount of PA using an activity meter equipped with a three-axis accelerometer. The measured activities were classified into locomotive PA and non-locomotive PA to clarify not only the relationship between MVPA and ikigai, but the types of activities that lead to increased ikigai as well. Participants were 86 community-dwelling older adult Japanese men and women. Measurement items included basic information (age, sex, BMI, and the number of underlying diseases), PA, Self-completed Occupational Performance Index (SOPI), and ikigai (the K-1 Scale). Confounding factors presumed to be related to ikigai were also elicited from previous studies. Associations of ikigai into three groups (high, middle, and low) with PA were analyzed by group comparisons and multivariate analyses. The comparison of PA indices among the high, middle, and low ikigai groups revealed that non-locomotive MVPA is significantly associated with ikigai (p < 0.05). In multiple comparisons, the low ikigai group was significantly and negatively affected by non-locomotive MVPA (p < 0.05) compared to the middle and high ikigai groups. Furthermore, in a multivariate analysis with ikigai as the dependent variable and sex, age, locomotive MVPA, and non-locomotive MVPA as independent variables, only non-locomotive MVPA (p < 0.05) was associated. These results suggest that non-locomotive MVPA is effective in enhancing ikigai.

Effects of Daily Consumption of Soy Products on Basic/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Community-Dwelling Japanese Women Aged 75 Years and Older: A 4-Year Cohort Study.

Since soy isoflavones compensate for age-related estrogen reduction, adequate intake of soy products may prevent the decline in activities of daily living (ADL) due to estrogen reduction in women. However, it is unclear whether regular soy product intake prevents ADL decline. This study examined the effects of soy product consumption on basic/instrumental ADL (BADL/IADL) in Japanese women 75 years or older for 4 years. The subject population consisted of 1289 women aged 75 years or older living in Tokyo who underwent private health examinations in 2008. For 1114 (or 1042) participants without baseline BADL (or IADL) disability, we examined the association between baseline soy product consumption frequency and the BADL (or IADL) disabilities 4 years later using logistic regression analyses. The models were adjusted for baseline age, or further for dietary variety for food groups other than soy products, exercise and sport participation, smoking, pre-existing disease number, and body mass index. Regardless of adjustment for potential confounding factors, less frequent soy product consumption was associated with higher BADL or IADL disability incidence. In the fully adjusted models, the trend toward a higher incidence of disabilities with less frequent soy product consumption was statistically significant for both BADL (p = 0.001) and IADL (p = 0.007). Those who consumed soy products more frequently at baseline were less likely to develop BADL and IADL disabilities after 4 years than those who did not. The results show that daily soy product consumption may prevent functional ADL decline in older Japanese women.

Lower cognitive function as a risk factor for anemia among older Japanese women from the longitudinal observation in theSONICstudy

The aging-related increase in the incidence of anemia potentially affects the mortality risk. Lower cognitive function is common among older adults, and anemia is one of the causes of cognitive decline. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated whether cognitive decline is a risk factor for anemia in older people. Therefore, in this study, we used a 3-year longitudinal evaluation to examine the association of cognitive function with anemia in community-dwelling older adults. This longitudinal study enrolled participants without anemia (diagnosed based on the World Health Organization's criteria) at baseline. Cognitive function was assessed using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between cognitive function at baseline and the presence of anemia 3 years later. Participants were in the 69-71 and 79-81 years age groups, and 974 older people (48.6% men) were enrolled, of whom 126 (12.9%) had anemia after 3 years. After adjusting, cognitive function at baseline was associated with anemia in women, but not in men. Older Japanese women with lower cognitive function have an increased risk for anemia 3 years later. The adoption of a lifestyle that utilizes or improves cognitive function might be important to prevent anemia in older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 334-340.

The association of subjective vision with objectively measured intensity-specific physical activity and bout-specific sedentary behavior among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

Visual impairment is a possible cause of physical frailty. Reduced physical activity (PA) may be involved in the pathway from visual impairment to physical frailty, although the association between vision and objectively measured PA among older adults remains unclear. This study examined the sex-specific association of subjective vision with intensity-specific PA and bout-specific sedentary behavior (SB) among community-dwelling, older Japanese adults. Cross-sectional study METHODS: This study used data from the Neuron to Environmental Impact across Generations study analyzing older adults (527 participants, aged 65-84 years) living in rural areas of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Subjective vision was assessed by use of a questionnaire. Intensity-specific PA (light-intensity PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]), bout-specific SB, and daily step count were objectively evaluated by use of an accelerometer. The association of subjective vison with PA and SB, stratified by sex, was analyzed by means of general regression analyses, with adjustment for covariates. The data of 512 participants (men: 46.9%; with poor subjective vision: 22.9%) were analyzed. Poor subjective vision was significantly associated with log MVPA (partial regression coefficient = -0.261, P = .013) and log steps (partial regression coefficient = -0.164; P = .021) among women, whereas a tendency of an association was observed with prolonged SB time among men (partial regression coefficient: 39.1; P = .073). Older Japanese women with poor subjective vision performed less MVPA and had fewer step counts than those of participants with good subjective vision, and men with poor subjective vision had longer prolonged SB, which may all accelerate the process to physical frailty.

Serum oxytocin correlated with later logical memory in older Japanese women: A 7-year follow-up study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between serum oxytocin and logical memory among older adults in rural Japan and clarify sex differences in this relationship. MeasurementsThe first survey was conducted from October 2009 to March 2011 (Time 1) and the second from November 2016 to September 2017 (Time 2). The final analysis for Time 1 included 385 participants (median age 75 years, interquartile range [IQR] 70–81 years) and that for Time 2 included 76 participants (median age 80 years, IQR 76–83 years). We assessed cognition, logical memory, and living conditions, and measured serum oxytocin levels. Logical memory was evaluated using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II-DR). Serum oxytocin was measured using the enzyme immunoassay method. ResultsThe median (IQR) oxytocin level among men (n = 20) was 34 (16–78) pg/mL at Time 1 and 53 (28–140) pg/mL at Time 2. The median (IQR) oxytocin level among women (n = 56) was 117 (35–412) pg/mL at Time 1 and 76 (32–145) pg/mL at Time 2. The median oxytocin level among women at Time 2 was significantly lower than that at Time 1 (p = 0.004). The multivariate analysis showed that for women, LM II-DR score at Time 2 was positively associated with oxytocin level at Time 1 (p = 0.042) and negatively associated with age (p = 0.02). ConclusionsOur study suggests that maintaining high oxytocin levels in older women may prevent age-related decline in logical memory.

Teaching healthy baking

Teaching healthy baking

Chronic Intake of a Meal Including Alaska Pollack Protein Increases Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength in Healthy Older Women: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

In animal studies, a meal containing Alaska pollack protein (APP) induces fast-twitch muscle hypertrophy. To our knowledge, no interventional studies have examined the benefits of APP intake on muscle mass and muscle weakness and the prevention of sarcopenia in older individuals. We evaluated the effects of APP intake on skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance among healthy community-dwelling older Japanese women. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, healthy women ≥ 65 y old were allocated to an APP or whey protein control (CON) group. Participants ingested test protein meals (5.0-5.1 g protein/serving) daily for 24 wk. Between-group differences in the change of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) as the primary outcome and muscle strength as a secondary outcome were tested using multifrequency BIA and a handheld dynamometer, respectively, at baseline, and 4, 12, and 24 wk. The mean changes in the measured primary and secondary outcome variables from baseline to 4, 12, and 24 wk were compared using unpaired t tests. There were no between-group differences in nutritional status, food intake, or total energy and protein intakes at baseline, 12 wk, or 24 wk. The change in SMI was 0.12 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.23 kg/m2) and 0.11 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.19 kg/m2) greater in the APP group than in the CON group at 12 wk and 24 wk (P ≤ 0.03) and knee extension strength was 0.07 Nm/kg BW (95% CI: 0.02, 0.12 Nm/kg BW) and 0.05 Nm/kg BW (95% CI: 0.00, 0.09 Nm/kg BW) higher in the APP group than in the CON group at these times (P ≤ 0.015), respectively. The groups did not differ at 4 wk. Daily intake of a meal containing APP compared with whey protein increases skeletal muscle mass and lower-extremity muscle strength in healthy older women, suggesting that an APP-containing meal may be useful in the prevention of sarcopenia in this group. This trial was registered at as UMIN000035718.